Game paused 6 times as VAR makes V. League debut

Referee Ngo Duy Lan reviews a play on VAR during the V. League game between Viettel FC and Hong Linh Ha Tinh on July 27, 2023. Photo by VnExpress/Trung Nhu

Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) and Vietnam Professional Football JSC (VPF) decided to choose the match on Hang Day Stadium, Hanoi, for testing VAR based on FIFA’s recommendation.

In the 69th minute, Egyptian attacking midfielder Mohamed Essameldin threw the ball into the penalty area and set up midfielder Nguyen Hoang Duc for the volley to make it 2-0 for Viettel. While the home team were celebrating, referee Ngo Duy Lan paused the game to review the play on VAR and check for offside.

After more than five minutes, VAR showed that there was no error and referee Lan gave the goal to Hoang Duc.

In the seventh additional minute, Brazilian defender Janclesio fouled forward Tran Danh Trung inside the box. It took VAR five minutes to check but could not give the call and referee Lan had to review the play on video. His final decision was to give Viettel a penalty, which Nguyen Duc Chien successfully converted and secured the 4-0 win for the capital club.

In the 106th minute, Lan blew the final whistle and ended one of the longest matches in V-League history. In this match, referee Lan also had four more pauses to listen to advice from VAR but no penalty was given.

VAR first appeared in the 2018 World Cup and has gradually become an essential of modern football. It is widely applied in major tournaments around the world such as UEFA Champions League, Europa League and English Premier League.

Vietnam planned to use VAR four years ago, but has not tested it until now due to funding issues and FIFA’s licensing. FIFA experts came to Vienam earlier this year to guide, train, evaluate and license 18 Vietnamese referees on VAR technology.